Dempster takes Cubs' four-year pitch

Ryan Dempster made the successful switch from closer to starter this season, winning 17 games and helping the Chicago Cubs compile the best record in the National League. His desire to help the team win its first World Series since 1908 is a big reason he agreed to a four-year, $52 million contract to stay with the Cubs yesterday. "Ultimately what it comes to, you have to think: What are our chances to win a world championship? I think given as close as we've gotten the last few, I just thought this is where I want to be," said Dempster, who is coming off a career year in which he went 17-6 (including 14-3 at Wrigley Field) with a 2.96 ERA. The 31-year-old righthander gets a $4 million signing bonus, $8 million next season, $12.5 million in 2010, and $13.5 million in 2011. He has a $14 million option for 2012.

The Seattle Mariners picked Don Wakamatsu as their new manager, giving the job to the Oakland Athletics bench coach and filling the only opening in the majors. Wakamatsu was chosen over several other candidates, a person familiar with the decision told the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because no announcement had been made. Mariners spokesman Tim Hevly said the team expects to make an announcement today, but would not confirm the hiring . . . Washington Nationals president Stan Kasten downplayed the team's reported pursuit of free agent first baseman Mark Teixeira, telling the Washington Post any such talk "is way ahead of us here." . . . The Orioles signed catcher Jose Reyes to a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training.

While his free agency is still two years away, LeBron James won't hesitate to leave the Cleveland Cavaliers if another franchise offers the superstar a better chance to win multiple NBA titles. "I think you do what is best for you and you do what is best for your career," James said when asked about his sense of loyalty to the Cavaliers before they played in New Jersey against the Nets, a team that plans to make a run at James in 2010. James has two years left on a five-year contract extension he signed in 2006. "When I decide to make that decision, it is basically to put me in a position where I feel like I can win multiple championships," James said. "If it's staying here, then I will be here. If it's moving elsewhere, then I will have to look at all my options."

Texas defensive coordinator Will Muschamp has been designated as head-coach-in-waiting by the university, expected to take over the Longhorns when Mack Brown retires. Muschamp, 37, is in his first year with Texas, but athletic director DeLoss Dodds said he and Brown know they want to keep Muschamp in Austin. To do that, they will more than double his salary to $900,000 in January. Brown, 57, insisted he's not planning to retire any time soon. He has eight years left on his current contract . . . Bowl Championship Series games are moving to ESPN in 2011. The BCS and ESPN announced a four-year contract, and ESPN's offer was for $125 million a year, according to a person with knowledge of the negotiations, who requested anonymity because the networks are not releasing financial details. Fox, the current home of the BCS, would not offer much more than $100 million annually, the person said.

Already assured a spot in next year's regional finals, and missing a handful of veterans and all four starting defenders, the United States men's soccer team will send a youthful lineup into tonight's World Cup qualifier against Guatemala in Commerce City, Colo. Less experienced international players such as the Revolution's Michael Parkhurst and Villarreal's Jozy Altidore will see plenty of time for the Americans (4-1), who have lost just one home qualifier since 1985, to Honduras in 2001. Guatemala (1-2-2) can advance only with a victory and a loss by Trinidad and Tobago (2-1-2) at home against Cuba . . . Two days after winning his second National League Most Valuable Player award, Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols announced he's trying to help bring a Major League Soccer expansion team to St. Louis. Pujols's reputation, plus a significant financial investment that was not disclosed, is expected to boost St. Louis Soccer United's chances of winning a franchise in 2011. Seven cities are competing for two expansion teams.

Ryan Hall, the fastest American marathoner in 2007 and '08, will make his Boston debut next April in the 113th year of the Marathon. Hall, 26, will compete for the John Hancock elite team. He finished 10th at the Beijing Olympics in 2 hours 12 minutes 33 seconds, and set a personal best at the 2008 London Marathon in 2:06:17. "I hope that I can continue to bring American marathoning back to the forefront," said Hall. "There is no better place to do that than Boston." . . . USA Track & Field selected Olympic gold medalists Bryan Clay (decathlon) and Stephanie Brown Trafton (discus) for the Jesse Owens Awards as the sport's top American athletes in 2008 . . . Golf great Seve Ballesteros was released from intensive care in Madrid following brain surgery.